THE ORIGINS OF PARLIAMENT

a) Which historians have
particularly specialised in the study of medieval parliaments ? How have
their views developed ? Where do they disagree, and why ?

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b) What are the principal
sources available for the study of the medieval parliaments ? What difficulties
do they raise ?

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c) How was Parliament used
during the reign of Henry III ? How did it differ from other similar assemblies
? What was the role of the Great Council in this period ?

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d) How did Edward I use
his Parliaments ? Which categories of subjects were summoned to attend
them and why ?

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e) Are we justified in
regarding thirteenth century parliaments as being primarily judicial assemblies
?

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f) What developments took
place in parliamentary procedure during the reign of Edward II ? What was
the significance of Keighley's petition in 1301 ? What was the function
of 'commune petitions' ? To what extent were the parliaments of Edward
I and Edward II used against these kings ?

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g) How successful was Parliament
in gaining control of finance and supply during the reign of Edward III
? What was the role of the Estate of Merchants, and the Staple ? How were
they brought under the control of Parliament ?

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h) What importance did
the 'commons' have in medieval Parliaments ? What kinds of people attended
the Commons ? How were they elected ? At what point is it possible to identify
a genuine House of Commons.

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I) What was the significance
for Parliament of the development of the concept of hereditary peerage
in the later middle ages ?

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j) What is the significance
of political trials in Parliament ? Why did medieval kings develop the
concept of treason, and how did this affect the powers of Parliament k)
What factors encouraged the development of impeachment ?

Using the sources recommended find, read and annotate the following
documents:

a) Earliest official use of the word Parliament Spufford P. Origins of
Parliament. p.28